An Imperishable Crown
A recent radio program carried the story of a man who was walking behind the campus of a nearby State College when, in the distance, he saw what looked like a HUGE “treasure chest” filled with gold and silver, shimmering in the sunlight. Upon closer inspection however, he discovered that the “treasure” was actually a collection of “trophies” of every shape and size that had been piled high in a dumpster!
The college was simply repeating a ritual of clearing their shelves and cabinets of all the old trophies, plaques and awards received over the years in order to make room for the next generation of college students.
As he gazed upon the glittering spectacle, he realized how these trophies in the dumpster might accurately represent all the worldly achievements, ideals and struggles of man such as fame, popularity, wealth, and power. And he could see their ultimate end – to eventually be discarded as “worthless” and then crushed and ground to dust!
Gleaning a lesson from a sporting event with application to living the Christian life, the Apostle Paul wrote:
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
They do it to get a crown that will not last;
But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:25
The trophies of the world will not last (see 2 Peter 3:10), but Christ offers to us an “Imperishable Crown” – the crown of LIFE (James 1:12).
One day, each of us will stand before the Judgment seat of Christ…
On that day ALL will recognize that the GREATEST accomplishment was what Jesus did for us on the cross: He died for our sins so that we might receive the crown of eternal life!
Jesus has promised to give the crown of life to those who: place their faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38), and live faithfully to Him for the rest of their lives (Revelation 2:10).
The glory of the crown made possible through the cross of Christ motivated George Bennard to pen the following words:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
Won’t YOU lay down your worldly, perishing trophies TODAY and submit your life to the Savior so that you may on THAT DAY, receive the “Imperishable Crown”?